EF Curriculum Overview

The Engineering Futures curriculum focuses on Communications, Teamwork and Leadership skills. There are nine individual modules, which use materials developed in collaboration with the CyberAmbassadors project (NSF Award #1730137).

While the modules may be completed in any order, there is a logical progression of skills from the Communications sessions into Teamwork and then Leadership. The training can be customized for different audiences and time constraints (from 60 minutes to full-day programs), and participants can earn a certificate by completing all nine modules in the core EF curriculum.

EF trainings are facilitated by trained volunteers and offered free of charge. While the curriculum was designed primarily for college students and professionals in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields, adults from all backgrounds are welcome.

Communications

First Contact: Communicating with Purpose

Effective networking can foster learning, invite collaborations, and uncover new opportunities for personal and professional success. The “First Contact” module explores the ways that new people, new tasks, new resources, and new contexts can impact interpersonal communications. Participants will learn the value of First Contact in different settings (networking, teamwork, consulting) and build skills for communicating in unfamiliar situations, with the goal of developing connections, sharing ideas, and building partnerships.

Let’s Talk: Communicating about Problems

Strong interpersonal communication skills can foster success in both professional and personal situations. The “Let’s Talk” module focuses on building participants’ capacity to engage in meaningful, one-on-one conversations about challenging topics. Participants will explore common types of problems and practice skills for resolving ability, motivation and interpersonal problem situations.

It’s Complicated: Communicating about Complexity

STEM professionals often find themselves working on problems that are both technically complex and complicated by differences in collaborators’ expertise, backgrounds, and communication styles. The “It’s Complicated” module focuses on helping participants understand complex conversations and practice skills for communicating more effectively in both the speaker and listener roles.

Teamwork

Teaming Up: Effective Group and Meeting Management

Assigning individuals to work in a group does not automatically create a well-functioning team. The “Teaming Up” module focuses on understanding the conditions necessary for groups to develop into effective teams and offers participants practical tools for encouraging team growth. This session also explores ways to make meetings more effective, including developing strong agendas and ensuring that three key leadership roles are filled (facilitator, note taker, timekeeper).

Speaking Up: Effective Presentation Skills

An effective presentation engages the audience by offering information that meets their needs and goals, in formats that are accessible and understandable. The “Speaking Up” module explores different types of presentations and includes multiple opportunities for participants to practice public speaking and develop more effective communication skills in different contexts.

Leveling Up: Problem Solving and Decision Making

Brainstorming is a common activity used both to generate new ideas and as a team-building experience. The “Leveling Up” module focuses on helping participants understand the value of creative thinking and become effective facilitators for problem solving and decision making activities. Specific skills for facilitating brainstorming sessions are discussed, along with practical tools for helping groups distill the results of brainstorming into actionable solutions and activities to help spark creativity.

Leadership

Leading the Team: Understanding Style and Personality

STEM professionals are often asked to work collaboratively and to take on leadership roles. When working in teams and leading projects, it is helpful to understand how to leverage one’s natural personality and preferred leadership style most effectively. In “Leading the Team,” participants will explore different aspects of leadership; reflect on their own leadership skills, values and goals; and develop a language for understanding and cultivating capable leaders.

Leading the Change: Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, in many dimensions, offers both challenges and opportunities to any relationship. Learning to identify, reflect upon, learn from, and engage with diverse perspectives is essential to fostering effective relationships and vibrant intellectual environments. “Leading the Change” explores challenges and solutions for creating more inclusive communities in STEM.

Leading with Principles: Ethics

STEM professionals play an important role in both teaching and modeling ethical behavior. There are ethical issues centering on the underlying technical knowledge and tools (e.g., how to set up, maintain, and secure resources) and about how to use disciplinary expertise appropriately to support research and practice. There are also ethical issues surrounding the relationships between STEM professionals and their colleagues, supervisors, and the public. Reflecting upon and discussing ethical behavior is an important part of becoming an effective STEM professional.